M&S hit by two more departures as IT and property directors join exodus from senior ranks

Britain’s biggest clothing retailer, which is in the middle of a turnaround plan, said that Darrell Stein, director of IT, and Clem Constantine, director of property, would be leaving in the summer.

The latest departures come after the group had been haemorrhaging staff following the resignation of Steve Sharp, architect of its successful ‘This is no ordinary...’ marketing campaign, and clothing director Kate Bostock.

Problems: Tired and outdated computer systems, warehouses and distribution systems that form the backbone of the business have become a handbrake on growth

It had also lost head of menswear Richard Price, stock management boss Andrew Skinner, technology guru Susan Aubrey-Cound and Alison Jones – who left as a junior brand director – over the past few years.

An spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that Darrell Stein and Clem Constantine will be leaving in the summer.

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‘Their roles have significantly changed recently. Darrell developed our new e-commerce platform which has now been delivered and, as announced at our interims, we will be putting on less general merchandise space which changes our property focus.’

Chief executive Marc Bolland has been under pressure to repair the behind the scenes problems that have beset the firm in recent years.

Tired and outdated computer systems, warehouses and distribution systems that form the backbone of the business have become a handbrake on growth.

Bolland has invested hundreds of million in the less than glamorous areas overlooked by his predecessors. Shares fell 5.7p to 454p.